When looking at getting business finance one aspect of your business you must be comfortable with is your financial performance. When discuss your finance request knowing your numbers and key aspects of your financial performance will set you apart from the majority of businesses.

Being able to read (and understand!) a Balance Sheet and a Profit and Loss is one aspect of running a successful business that eludes many business owners. A good grasp of your numbers will not only get you off to a flying start with the bank but it can also give you a better understanding of your business and areas of potential improvement.

In this clip from a live seminar BLS’s Rob Warlow talks about the importance of knowing your numbers when applying for a business loan or any form of business finance.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin episode Rob Warlow looks at how late payment continues to get increased focus by the government with revisions of the Prompt Payment Code and proposed legislation. Rob also shares surveys carried out by the Forum of Private Business and the Federations of Small Businesses looking at the extent of the late payment problem.

More news about the government’s desire to regulate that banks must refer clients to alternative sources of finance in cases where they have been declined support by the banks. Rob discusses how the British Business Bank has been given the task to find suitable partners.

If you are an early-stage growth business looking to raise finance via selling equity then Rob shares news about the Sprint programme launched by crowdfunding platform Crowdcube.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob chats with Mike Ogilvie of OBC Accountants in Eastbourne in which he shares three growth tips for businesses to act on.

If you would like to listen to this week’s episode in a podcast version you can download it via our Soundcloud page by clicking below

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin episode Rob Warlow looks at news from the Asset Based Finance Association on how asset finance business is booming.

If you are looking to purchase plant and equipment via Asset Finance Rob discusses the emergence of a relatively new provider in the market, Secure Trust Bank.

If you purchase goods from China and struggle to find the cash up front then Rob has news of a tie up between Alibaba, the Chinese online portal, and Ezbob and IWOCA, providers of short-term finance.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares one of the reasons why banks say no. Don’t fall foul of this!

If you would prefer to listen to this week’s episode as a podcast simply click below to listen and download to your PC or phone.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at evidence of a continued increase in confidence amongst small business owners with positive news from a survey carried out by Hitachi Capital.

Rob also looks at signs that the success rate in getting a ‘yes’ from banks is on the up according to the FSB’s latest Voice of Small Business Index. According to this latest report businesses are also reporting how profits are on the up and there is more interest in hiring staff. All positive signs for the economy.

Turning to alternative lenders Rob shares news of a possible new entrant into the banking market with Civilised Bank looking to launch later in the year focusing on the SME market.

Funding growth via selling equity has often been a mental stumbling block for many business owners but Rob looks at a report from the British Business Bank which reveals that more businesses are considering it as a viable option to raising cash.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob chats with Dr Paul Thomas of DNA Definitive in which he shares a number of key issues that growing businesses should be aware of.

If you prefer to listen to this week’s edition on your phone or in your car simply download the podcast version by clicking the download image.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at recent surveys from Close Brothers and the government’s Business Innovation and Skills Department on growing confidence levels amongst business owners in the UK.

Rob also looks at the latest figures from the Bank of England on the Funding for Lending Scheme which shows a continued downward slide in support from banks.

Late payment continues to be a problem for growing businesses and Rob looks at how the government is tackling the problem with revisions to the Prompt Payment Code and new rules designed to ensure the public sector pays on time.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob chats with Market Invoice, the online crowdfunding platform, which helps UK businesses unlock cash tied up in outstanding invoices.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version of this week’s Bulletin simply click below or download to your computer or phone.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow discusses findings from the latest SME Finance Monitor report on small businesses appetite to borrow. Is it as strong as we think?

One industry sector that does struggle to raise finance is the UK house building trade. Rob shares news of a new fund Santander is putting together to help house builders who need development finance.

During the financial crisis short term business loans have become popular and Rob looks at the news of the takeover by EzBob of Everline. With both companies having lent a combined £54 million the short term business loan industry is set to grow further.

Following a workshop held by Aldermore Bank on Invoice Discounting Rob had a chance to catch up with Richard Whitehouse, Regional Sales Director to hear more about how invoice discounting can help unlock cash to fuel growth.

If you prefer to listen to this edition as a podcast click below or to download it to your phone click the download button.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at findings from the ACCA and BACS on how businesses are being held back from growth by late payment.

Challenger bank Aldermore has released its 2014 trading figures and Rob looks at how they are helping UK businesses access finance.

The importance of business planning and putting together a growth strategy has been underlined by a recent survey from Barclays on how many businesses plan ahead. What do you need to think about when planning for growth?

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob asks the question, ‘What do banks want?’

If you would prefer listening to this episode on your phone or PC you can download the podcast version by clicking below.

In the latest episode of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow from Business Loan Services discusses the government’s proposed scheme, Help to Grow, which aims to get finance to UK’s small and medium-sized businesses.
Managed by the British Business Bank Rob explains what type of businesses the scheme is looking to assist.

In the crowdfunding world Rob looks at news from AltFin on the amount of money the crowdfunding sector lent in 2014 and how a recent review undertaken by the Financial Conduct Authority has focused on encouraging crowdfunding platforms to reveal warts and all about the investments on offer.

In this episode Rob also chats with Keith Litherland, Business Development Manager from Aldermore Bank. Keith outlines the various ways in which Aldermore is helping UK businesses grow via its range of commercial finance products.

If you would also like to listen to the podcast version either on your PC or to download to your phone simply click below to play or download.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at a report from the Centre for Entrepreneurs and the UK Business Angels Association on how the UK is becoming a nation of angels… but who are these angel investors and how can they benefit your business?

The statistics on how the crowdfunding industry did in 2014 are in with news from the Peer to Peer Finance Association on how the sector doubled the amount it lent in the previous 12 months. With the recent news of banks beginning to partner up with the new kids on the block crowdfunding is starting to come of age.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob looks at recent research from Barclays Bank on how business owners should embrace the merits of having a Business Plan. But does your Business Plan have to be the size of War and Peace?

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version of this edition of the Business Finance Bulletin then click below or click the download button to upload to your phone or PC.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at the announcement from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) that it will now be referring small businesses which it can’t help with finance on to crowdfunding companies

Funding Circle and Assetz Capital. This is a major sign that the crowdfunding industry is now going mainstream.
Another form of alternative finance which is proving popular with small businesses is family and friends. Rob looks at findings in a survey from Everline which reveals how many small businesses use this form of finance and why.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares a clip from a seminar he delivered in Amsterdam at a Kevin Green Advanced Business training weekend. In this clip Rob shares one of the reasons why cashflow can prove to be a strain for many businesses.

If you prefer to listen to this week’s Bulletin as a podcast you can click below or click the download icon to load it on your phone or PC.